Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a preventable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C was discovered in the 1980s when it became apparent that there was a new virus causing liver damage. It was known as non-A non-B hepatitis until it was properly identified in 1989.

Symptoms

Hepatitis C can be categorized into two stages, firstly an acute infection (following initial infection) and secondly a chronic infection. The acute stage refers to the first 6 months of infection and does not necessarily mean there are any noticeable symptoms. Since symptoms are commonly absent many people are unaware that they have hepatitis C until some time after they have been infected.

Symptoms of acute hepatitis C infection can include:

Fever

Tiredness

Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)

Abdominal pain

Dark urine

Loss of appetite

Nausea (sick to your stomach)

People may develop a chronic (long-term) infection and expereince long-term health concerns that are difficult to diagnose (for example, tiredness, lack of energy, or digestive problems). It is important to recognise that hepatitis C can cause a variety of symptoms that are highly variable – people with chronic heaptitis C can feel fine and have no symptoms, however others will suffer from quite severe symptoms.

Causes

The virus is usually spread by direct contact with the blood of an infected person. This happens most often by:

Sharing drug snorting or injection equipment such as needles and syringes

Accidentally poking yourself with a used needle and syringe

Having received a transfusion of blood or blood product in a country where the blood supply is not tested for hepatitis C.

In Canada, this applies only to transfusions before 1990. As of June 1990 all blood and blood products have been screened for the hepatitis C virus.

Other situations where blood-to-blood contact from a hepatitis C infected person can occur but the risk is much lower include:

Sharing toothbrushes, dental floss, razors, nail files, or other items which could have tiny amounts of blood on them

Skin-piercing procedures such as tattoos, body-piercing, acupuncture or electrolysis if the equipment is not sterile

Sexual intercourse

An infected mother passing it to her newborn infant. Whether breast milk can transmit the virus is not yet known.

How is Hepatitis C NOT spread?

Hepatitis C is NOT known to be spread by:

Coughing or sneezing

Friendly contact such as hugging and kissing

Using the same dishes or cutlery

Swimming in a treated pool when you have cuts, scrapes or are menstruating

Being bitten or stung by an insect which then bites or stings someone else